De Villota awake and ‘talking to family’ – boss

Marussia team boss John Booth on Sunday had some good news about Maria de Villota’s improving condition.

Although upgraded from a “critical” to “serious” condition in the wake of her latest head and facial surgery, the last word about the 32-year-old Spaniard was that she was in an artificial coma.

No more. Booth said just ahead of the British grand prix that the team’s test driver, who lost her right eye after an horror testing crash at Duxford airfield on Tuesday, is now awake and “talking with her family”.